Attendance
All attendance policies comply with the Mississippi Department of Education guidelines.
Daily School Schedules
|
Elementary Schools |
Times |
|---|---|
|
Stokes -Beard Elementary (PreK-1) |
School Opens: 7 AM - Start Time: 7:30 AM - Dismissal: 2:25 PM |
|
Cook Elementary (2-3) |
School Opens: 7:25 AM - Start Time: 7:45 AM - Dismissal: 2:40 PM |
|
Sale Elementary (4) |
School Opens: 7:30 AM - Start Time: 8:10 AM - Dismissal: 3 PM |
|
Hunt Intermediate School |
Times |
|---|---|
|
Grades 5-6 |
School Opens: 7:30 AM - Start Time: 8:15 AM - Dismissal: 3:05 PM |
|
Columbus Middle School |
Times |
|
|---|---|---|
|
Grades 7-8 |
School Opens: 7:50 AM - Start Time: 8:25 AM - Dismissal: 3:30 PM |
|
Columbus High School |
Times |
|---|---|
|
Grades 9-12 |
School Opens: 7:50 AM - Start Time: 8:25 AM - Dismissal: 3:30 PM |
66% Rule
State law requires that a student be present for at least 66% of their instructional day to be counted present for the full day.
Attendance Matters
Good attendance matters for school success, starting as early as prekindergarten and throughout elementary school. By middle and high school, poor attendance is a leading indicator of dropout. Developing the habit of attendance prepares students for success on the job and in life.
Excused and unexcused absences easily add up to too much time lost in the classroom.
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Students are at risk academically if they miss 10 percent of the school year, or about 18 days. Once too many absences have occurred, they can affect learning, regardless of whether absences are excused or unexcused.
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Sporadic, not just consecutive, absences matter. Before you know it - just one or two days a month can add up to nearly 10 percent of the school year.
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Avoid unnecessary absences. Some absences are unavoidable. Occasionally, children get sick and need to stay home. What is important is getting children to school as often as possible.
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Students may receive up to five excused absences per year.
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Absences due to illness or injury beyond the third absence require medical documentation.
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Additional excused absences beyond the semester limit require principal approval for extenuating circumstances.
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Students may not participate in school-sponsored activities if absent for more than 33% of the school day.